The present invention relates to a mortice lock comprising a lock body and mounted thereon a bolt element that can be driven by a drive mechanism, which mechanism can be operated by means of a rotational movement of an actuating element around a shaft which extends approximately transverse through the lock body, which lock body comprises a first transverse opening to give access to the actuating element. The invention furthermore relates to an interior door comprising the mortice lock described above.

Such mortice locks are generally known from the prior art and are used amongst others to open and close doors, windows, hatches, shutter doors and in particular interior doors. For reasons of clarity the invention will be described below in the context of an interior door. It will however also be clear to the expert taking note of the invention as described below that this invention can also be applied to windows, shutters, hatches, other doors etc. Replacing a mortice lock in an interior door according to the prior art comprises a number of steps. In a first step the mortice lock already present in the door must be removed from the door. The mortice lock is generally mounted in a recess provided for this in the side of the interior door. Before the mortice lock can be removed from the recess, the actuating element, for example a door handle, must first be removed from the mortice lock. If a lock actuating element is present, for example a cylinder lock, this must also first be removed. The door generally comprises a transverse opening to install the actuating element when mounting the mortice lock. Furthermore the door can have a second transverse opening for installation of the cylinder lock. Similar transverse openings are also present in a lock body of the mortice lock. In view of the fact that the actuating element and where applicable the lock actuating element run through the transverse openings in both the door and the mortice lock, the mortice lock is in fact firmly attached to the door. On replacement of this mortice lock, the actuating element must first be removed along the shaft. This takes place on the visible exterior of the door. Thereafter the mortice lock can be removed from the recess in the side edge of the door, whereupon in a second step the new mortice lock can be inserted in the recess. On insertion of the mortice lock it must be ensured that the openings in the lock are aligned with the openings present in the door. Then the actuating element is re-assembled by moving this in the length direction of its rotational shaft through both the transverse opening in the door and the transverse opening in the new mortice lock aligned with this. Similarly the lock actuating element is introduced through the transverse openings provided for this end in the door and mortice lock.

The disadvantage of such mortice locks is that on replacement of a mortice lock already mounted in a door, various problems can occur. As already described above, it is necessary to remove the door handle and often the lock actuating element following the length direction of the door handle shaft perpendicular to the door leaf before the mortice lock can be removed from the door. For this technical actions must take place on the visible side of the door. Thus when mounting or removing such a mortice lock, elements on the visible part of the door can be damaged, which is undesirable. Certainly in the case of interior doors which on the visible part of the door often comprise aesthetic elements, and where the actuating element itself is often aesthetically designed, this is undesirable.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mortice lock for which replacement is less laborious.

This is achieved according to the present invention with a mortice lock with the technical features of claim 1.

For this the first transverse opening is further accessible via a first slot which extends from a lateral side of the mortice lock to the first transverse opening in such a way that the actuating element, by a translation movement in a direction largely perpendicular to said shaft, can be introduced via the first slot in the said first transverse opening. Such a mortice lock has the advantage that it can be both removed from a door and installed in a door without the actuating element such as a door handle first needing to be removed. In this operation therefore no technical actions must take place on the door panel, whereby the chance of damage is substantially reduced. In such an operation the mortice lock is pushed by translation movement over the actuating element while the actuating element is in a static state in the door. Or relatively viewed and regarded from the mortice lock, the actuating element is introduced into the mortice lock by translation perpendicular to the shaft of the actuating element.

A further advantage is that such a mortice lock can be installed in the door much more quickly than the existing systems as installation is greatly simplified. As a result a substantial amount of time and hence costs can be saved. Preferably the drive mechanism furthermore comprises a transmission element for transferring a movement from an actuating element to the bolt element, wherein the transmission element is mounted rotatable around said shaft in the first transverse opening, the transmission element comprising a mounting opening for receiving the actuating element, wherein the mounting opening and the actuating element have a complementary form such that rotation of the actuating element around said shaft induces a rotation of the transmission element, and wherein the mounting opening is connected via a mounting slot with a lateral side of the transmission element such that the actuating element can be introduced into the mounting opening via the mounting slot by translation in a direction largely perpendicular to said shaft.

Such a transmission element can transfer a movement such as a force or moment from the actuating element to a further part of the drive mechanism. The advantage of such a transmission element is that this can be mounted on or removed from the door without the actuating element having to be removed.

Here too the comment must be made that the translation movement described above must be interpreted relatively and that in general the mortice lock including transmission element must be moved over the actuating element. For this it is however essential that a relative movement of the actuating element in relation to the mortice lock and transmission element is possible, as described by the claim.

Preferably the transmission element can rotate in relation to the first transverse opening between two positions, of which one position is a rest position.

In this way an actuating element such as a door handle which is received through the transmission element can also move between these two extreme positions. Also the bolt element which is controlled indirectly by the transmission element can move between these two extreme positions. Consequently the actuating element can move between two extreme positions which correspond to the two extreme positions of the bolt element. One of the two extreme positions is preferably a rest state in which no significant force or moment is exerted on the actuating element. In this state the bolt element can for example be in a rest state in which the door is held closed. On movement of the actuating element to the other extreme state, the bolt element can be moved and consequently the interior door opened.

Preferably the mounting slot and the fist slot are aligned when the transmission element is in a predetermined position in relation to the first opening, preferably in a rest position, such that the actuating element can be moved, by translation in a direction largely perpendicular in relation to said shaft, via the first slot into the mounting slot and then into the mounting opening. If the first slot and the mounting slot are aligned in such a manner, the mortice lock including the transmission element can be mounted on or removed from the door without the actuating element needing to be removed. On installation of the mortice lock, part of the actuating element in the door must first pass through the first slot and then through the mounting slot aligned with this on the transmission element until the actuating element is received in the mounting opening of the transmission element. If the position of the transmission element at the moment that the first slot and mounting slot aligned is equal to the rest position, in addition the advantage is achieved that the mortice lock together with the transmission element can be mounted in the door without a force needing to be exerted on the actuating element. Thus replacement of the mortice lock according to the present invention is even more simplified, whereby also the time necessary to replace the lock is reduced.

Preferably the transmission element furthermore comprises a protuberance for transferring a force within said drive mechanism.

By this protuberance the transmission element also actually fulfils its coupling function. The protuberance is namely in direct contact with the further drive mechanism. Thus it is possible to operate the bolt element via the actuating element.

Preferably the mortice lock contains a front plate which is opposite said lateral side. A front plate offers protection for the mechanism which drives the bolt element and where applicable also a mechanism which drives the lock element, and also a lock actuating element.

In addition the mortice lock can easily be attached to the door via the front plate. This can take place for example by screwing the front plate to the side of the door. To make this easier, one or more holes can be present in the front plate.

Preferably the actuating element comprises a door handle with door handle shaft.

Door handles with door handle shaft, such as a handle or lever, are generally used as actuating elements for bolt elements of doors and are ideally suited for this. The present invention is however in no way restricted to this, and other actuating elements known to the expert can also be used.

Preferably the bolt element comprises one or more of the elements of latch bolt, dead bolt, hook or combination of two or more thereof. Other bolt elements known to the expert can however also be used. Preferably the mortice lock furthermore comprises a lock actuating element selected from the group of tumbler locks, cylinder locks, pin cylinder locks, plate cylinder locks, radial locks and a combinations of two or more thereof. More preferably the lock actuating element is a cylinder lock.

A lock actuating element offers the advantage that the door can be locked for example with a key, whereby the door not only has a sealing function but also a protective and security function. In the specific context of an interior door, greatest preference is given to a cylinder lock.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lock body comprises a second transverse opening wherein the second transverse opening is intended to receive said lock actuating element and wherein the second transverse opening furthermore is connected via a second slot with said lateral side of the mortice lock in such a way that the lock actuating element, by a translation in a direction largely perpendicular to said shaft, can be introduced via the second slot into the second transverse opening, the first and second slots being largely parallel. With such a second transverse opening and associated slot, it is also unnecessary to remove the lock actuating element before the mortice lock can be mounted or removed. As the prior art also requires the lock actuating element to be removed in the length direction of the shaft of the actuating element, with the associated risk of damage of the visible side of the door, the second transverse opening in the mortice lock according to this invention is an advantage. To be able to mount the mortice lock in a the door in a simple manner, it is furthermore necessary for the first and second slots to be parallel in relation to each other. Furthermore the present invention relates to an interior door comprising the mortice lock described above.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the attached figures and description of figures. Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an interior door together with a preferred embodiment of the mortice lock according to the present invention, to which a transmission element according to the present invention is attached. Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a preferred embodiment of the mortice lock and the transmission element according to the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the mortice lock and the transmission element according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to a mortice lock 1 for an interior door 14 and is shown in figures 1 to 3. The mortice lock 1 is intended to be installed in a door 14 as shown in figure 1 . The door 14 itself is preferably an interior door 14 which is provided on the side with a recess 15 to receive the mortice lock 1. Furthermore in the door 14 a first transverse opening is provided to receive an actuating element 1 1 with a shaft 16, such as for example a door handle. In the preferred embodiment of this invention shown in figures 1 to 3, the interior door 14 is furthermore provided with a second transverse opening to receive a lock actuating element 12, in particular a cylinder lock 12.

The mortice lock comprises a lock body 2 which is pushed into the recess 15 provided in the door 14. The lock body 2, like the interior door, comprises a first transverse opening 3 intended to receive the actuating element 1 1 , in particular a door handle, and a second transverse opening 4 intended to give access to the cylinder lock 12. On the mortice lock 1 is also provided a drive mechanism for driving a bolt element 10, in particular a latch bolt which is also present in the mortice lock 1. Said mechanism is driven by the actuating element 1 1. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, a movement of the actuating element 1 1 is transferred to the mechanism via a transmission element 7. The transmission element 7 comprises a mounting opening 8 for receiving the actuating element 1 1 and a mounting slot 9. In the mortice lock according to the present invention, the first transverse opening 3 of the lock body 2 is furthermore connected with a lateral side of the mortice lock via a first slot 5. Also the second transverse opening 4 is connected with this lateral side of the mortice lock 1 by means of a second slot 6. In the preferred embodiment of the mortice lock shown in figures 1 to 3, a front plate 13 is also present which is opposite said lateral side of the mortice lock 1.

The interior door 14 can be any of the interior doors 14 known to the expert. So wooden doors, metal doors, plastic doors, doors of compressed cardboard or chipboard can be used. Also various types of aesthetic element can be mounted thereon. As described above, the invention can also be extended to other partition elements such as a shutter, window etc. in which such a mortice lock can be installed. The interior door 14 is preferably provided with a recess 15 for installation of the mortice lock 1 . Preferably the recess 15 largely has the same size as the mortice lock 1 so that in the mounted state the recess 15 fits closely around the mortice lock 1. Furthermore the interior door 14 according to this preferred embodiment comprises a first and a second transverse opening. The first transverse opening is intended to give access to the actuating element 1 1 while the second transverse opening is intended to give access to the lock actuating element 12. The actuating element 1 1 and the lock actuating element 12 installed in these openings in the mounted state intersect both the recess 15 in the side of the door 14 and the mortice lock 1 mounted in the door 14. If desirable, several transverse openings can be made in the interior door 14 to receive several actuating elements 1 1 and/or lock actuating elements 12, or a single transverse opening can be used to receive both the actuating element 1 1 and the lock actuating element 12.

The mortice lock 1 comprises a lock body 2. This lock body 2 forms the frame of the mortice lock and is preferably a metal lock body 2 such as an iron or aluminium lock body 2. Metal lock bodies 2 are preferred because they give greater rigidity to the mortice lock 1. If desired however, other materials such as for example plastic can be used to produce the lock body 2 of the mortice lock 1 . The lock body 2 of mortice lock 1 is pushed into the recess 15 on the side of the interior door 14 and is completely surrounded by this recess 15. Preferably also a lock body 2 is selected which fits closely into the recess 15. The lock body 2 itself is preferably of a flat form. On the lock body 2 is mounted the drive mechanism to drive the bolt element 10. The lock body 2 can take the form of a single flat plate on which the drive mechanism is mounted, or two flat plates between which the drive mechanism is mounted, or any other form deemed suitable by the expert.

The first transverse opening 3 is intended to give access to an actuating element 1 1 such as for example a door handle. With the mortice lock 1 mounted in a door, this first transverse opening 3 of the mortice lock 1 is aligned with the corresponding first transverse opening of the door 14. The first transverse opening 3 shows an opening access path 5 which extends from said first transverse opening 3 to a lateral side of the mortice lock. This opening access path is referred to by the term 'first slot 5'. Via this first slot 5 the actuating element 1 1 , by translation in a direction largely perpendicular to said shaft, can be inserted into the first transverse opening 3. Thus the mortice lock 1 can be installed in the door 14 without the actuating element 1 1 needing to be removed from the door. The mortice lock 1 can normally be pushed by means of the first slot 5 over the actuating element 1 1 until the actuating element 1 1 lies in the first transverse opening 3 of the mortice lock 1.

Furthermore in this preferred embodiment of the mortice lock a second transverse, opening 4 is present in the lock body 2. This second transverse opening 4 serves to give access to a lock actuating element 12. This second transverse opening 4 corresponds to a similar transverse opening in the interior door 14. Also the second transverse opening 4 has an opening access path which extends from said second opening 4 to the lateral side of the mortice lock. The latter opening access path is referred to by the term 'second slot 6'. Via this second slot 6 the lock actuating element 12 can be moved, by translation in a direction largely perpendicular in relation to said shaft, into said second transverse opening 4. Like the first transverse opening 3 with the first slot 5, the mortice lock 1 can in this way be installed in an interior door 14 in which a locking actuating element 12 is already present without this lock actuating element 12 needing to be removed. When fitting the mortice lock 1 in the recess 15, the mortice lock 1 is pushed by means of the second slot 6 over the lock actuating element 12 already present in the door 14. Preferably the first slot 5 and the second slot 6 are largely parallel. In this way the mortice lock 1 can easily be moved simultaneously over both the actuating element 1 1 and the lock actuating element 12 present in the door 14. Preferably the lateral side with which the two slots 5, 6 are connected is the side which is introduced first in the recess 15 of the door 14.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention both the first slot 5 and the second slot 6, in the height direction of the mortice lock 1 , are wider at the lateral side of the mortice lock 1 than at the respective first transverse opening 3 and second transverse opening 4. As a result the mortice lock 1 can be installed even more easily. Because the slots 5, 6 on the lateral side of the mortice lock 1 are wider in the height direction, preferably 20% wider than on the side of the respective openings 3, 4, the mortice lock 1 on installation in the door 14 is not hindered or little hindered by the actuating element 1 1 and/or the lock actuating element 12 if this is already mounted in the door 14.

In addition such a mortice lock 1 can be positioned correctly in the door 14 even more easily. Certainly if the slots 5, 6 continuously become narrower towards the openings 3, 4, the mortice lock 1 is virtually guided to the correct position by the actuating element 1 1 and the lock actuating element 12 already present in the door. As a result replacement of the mortice lock 1 can take place even more simply and consequently takes less time.

In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mortice lock 1 is also fitted with a front plate 13. This front plate 13 is preferably opposite said lateral side. Thus the mortice lock 1 on introduction in the recess can be pressed into the door 14 until the front plate 13 rests against the side edge of the door 14. The front plate 13 is furthermore preferably fitted with one or more holes in which for example screws etc. can be inserted to attach the front plate 13 to the door. In this way the mortice lock 1 can be rigidly attached to the door 14. A front plate 13 offers protection to both the mechanism which drives the bolt element 10 and to the cylinder lock 12.

The actuating element 11 to drive the mechanism can be any actuating element 1 1 deemed suitable by the expert. Thus for example a door handle, a bolt etc. can be used. Preferably this actuating element 11 is already present in the door 14 itself. The actuating element 1 1 extends largely out around a shaft. On both visible sides of the door 14, coupled to the actuating element 1 1 are handling parts which can be operated manually, such as for example catches. The actuating element 1 1 transfers a particular movement such as a force or a moment to the drive mechanism which operates the bolt element 10, preferably via a transmission element 7. Therefore the actuating element 1 1 is preferably made of a rigid material such as a metal. Because this actuating element 1 1 transfers the movement largely via a rotation movement to the drive mechanism, preferably to the transmission element 7, a cross section of the actuating element 1 1 is preferably not round in shape. Preferably the actuating element 1 1 is square in cross section as shown in figures 2 and 3. This square cross section allows the rotation movement to be transferred much better to the drive mechanism, preferably the transmission element 7. Any other non-round cross section can also be selected as a cross section of the actuating element 1 1 , provided that the drive mechanism, preferably the transmission 7, is formed complementary to this.

Preferably the movement is transferred via a transmission element 7 to a further drive mechanism. This transmission element 7 comprises a mounting opening 8 to receive the actuating element 1 1 , wherein this opening 8 is formed so that it prevents rotation of the actuating element 1 1 in the transmission element 7. This is preferably achieved by adapting the form of the mounting opening 8 such that the actuating element 1 1 fits in but cannot rotate in this. This can be achieved by making the mounting opening 8 for example largely the same non-round shape as a shape of the cross section of the physical shaft, preferably a square shape. Any other shape which is not the same as that of the cross section of the physical shaft but which prevents the physical shaft from turning in the mounting opening 8 can however also be selected.

The transmission element 7 is preferably attached rotatably about the shaft 16 of the actuating element 1 1 in the first transverse opening 3. Here the transmission element 7 as described above does not rotate around the actuating element 1 1 itself but around the shaft 16. The transmission element 7 performs this rotation movement in relation to the first transverse opening 3 which covers the transmission element 7. Thus both transmission element 7 and the first transverse opening 3 preferably have a complementary form which allows them to rotate in relation to each other. Preferably the transmission element 7 and the first transverse opening 3 have a close fitting round shape.

Preferably the transmission element 7 has a protuberance by which a movement can be transferred to the further drive element which drives the bolt element 10.

The transmission element 7 furthermore comprises a mounting opening 8 which is connected via a mounting slot 9 with a lateral side of the transmission element 7 in such a way that the actuating element 1 1 can be introduced, by translation in a direction largely perpendicular in relation to said shaft, in the mounting opening via the mounting slot 9. This mounting slot 9 is an opening access path which extends from said mounting opening to a peripheral side edge of said transmission element. Such a transmission element 7 can be mounted on or removed from the door 14 with actuating element, without the actuating element 1 1 needing to be removed.

Preferably the mounting slot 9 and the first slot 5 are aligned when the transmission element 7 is in a particular position, preferably in a rest position, such that the actuating element 1 1 can be introduced, by translation in a direction largely perpendicular in relation to said shaft, via the first slot 5 into the mounting slot 9 and then into the mounting opening 8. This aligned position is the only position in which translation of the actuating element 1 1 into the mounting opening 8 can take place. If the first slot 5 and the mounting slot 9 are aligned in such a way, the mortice lock 1 including the transmission element 7 can be mounted on or removed from the door 14 without the actuating element 1 1 needing to be removed. On installation of the mortice lock 1 , part of the actuating element 1 1 present in the door 14 can first slide through the first slot 5 and then through the co-aligned mounting slot 9 of the transmission element 7 until the actuating element 1 1 is received in the mounting opening 9 of the transmission element 7. If the position of the transmission element 7 at the moment that the first slot 5 and the mounting slot 9 are aligned is equal to the rest position, furthermore, the advantage is achieved that the mortice lock 1 together with a transmission element 7 can be introduced to the door 14 without a force needing to be exerted on the actuating element 1 1. Preferably the transmission element 7 can rotate in relation to the first transverse opening 5 between two extreme positions, wherein one extreme position is a rest position. In this way an actuating element 1 1 such as a door handle which is received by this transmission element 7 can also move between two extreme positions. As described above, the bolt element 10 which is controlled indirectly by the transmission element 7 can also move between two extreme positions. Consequently the actuating element 1 1 can move between two extreme positions which preferably correspond to the two extreme positions of the bolt element 10. One of the two extreme positions is preferably a rest state in which no form of force or moment is exerted on the actuating element 1 1. In this state the bolt element 10 can for example be in a closing state. On movement of the actuating element 1 1 to the other extreme state, the bolt element 10 can be moved and consequently the interior door 14 opened.

The mortice lock 1 can furthermore also comprise a lock actuating element such as a cylinder lock 12. Preferably this lock actuating element 12 is already present in the door and the mortice lock 1 can be pushed via a second slot 6 over this until the lock actuating element 12 is in the second transverse opening 6 of the mortice lock 1. Where applicable the lock actuating element 12 can also be present in the mortice lock 1 itself. This lock actuating element 12 can be any type of lock actuating element 12 deemed suitable by the expert for installation in an interior door 14. Thus the lock actuating element 12 can for example be a tumbler lock, a cylinder lock, a pin cylinder lock, a plate cylinder lock, a radial lock or a combination thereof. Preferably a cylinder lock is selected. These are very efficient locks which are ideal for mounting in an interior door 14. The lock actuating element 12 can itself drive a further bolt element to close the door 14. In this case the lock actuating element 12 is connected via a further mechanism with the further bolt element. Preferably the further bolt element differs from the bolt element 10 which is driven by the actuating element 1 1 but it can also be the same. It is important to state that in specific embodiments of the present invention, the lock actuating element, in cooperation with a key to operate the lock actuating element, can function as the actuating element 1 1 for the bolt element 10. In this case there is no bolt element 1 1 such as a door handle but the lock actuating element 12 itself functions as the sole actuating element 1 1.